Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-10-17

long line of footmen and d rsemen,
citizens and soldiers, preceded 10y
several hundred bicycli9t~, bearing
Chinese lanterns. All along the
route the houses were adorned with
the stars and stripes, and all Wash
ingtou seemed 10 have turned out 90
give more than royal greeting 90
the man it delights 10 honor. II this
/ splendid popular pageant had been
paid to a successful military hero re-
turning from the pomp and triumph
Of bloody fields, or to statesman
crowned with laurcls OF civic renown,
it would not have been in the least
wonderful: but that Mr.. Shepherd,
simply private citizen, without pow
er to favor or reward. should thus
spontaneously receive this magnit-
cent tribute and homage from the
populace of his native city, is unique,
and without single parallel in the
history of the United States If i'm
deed. not that of the whole world as
we'll And if Republics are migrate
full, the Capital of the greatest Of
Republics is surely not 50.
The work on the fine state, war aud
navy department building, which is
pronounced the grandest public struc-
ture in the federal city, is nearing
completion, and will, it is expected.
be ready for occupation early next
January.
The constant and rapid growth of
our great government departments
more particularly the patent and pen
sion offices, keep pace with the prog
ress and upbuilding of the whole coun-
try. There are now several bureaus
of the interior department domiciled
outside of the main building. and il
is the purpose of the authorities TO
remove the general land office from
thence to the pension Office some time
within the next year, thus making
room for such of the smaller bureaus
as are crowded out and saving the
government huge rental.
Secretary Fairchild has issued a
circular to the custom Of officials,
urging their adoption of economic
methods in the collection of custom
duties, in view of the decreased APP !
preparations for the purpose in ques-
ton.
The controller of the currency has
directed all national banks to prepare
statements, showing the exact condi-
ton Of their affairs at the close Of |
business on oct. >, 1897, the object |
in doing so being obviously to guard |
against fraud and deception in these
days.
The report of the post-otlice de- 4
partment for the month Of August. \
in the matter of selling postage /
stamps, makes very gratifying ex-
hibit, showing, as it does, that in \
six tirst-class post-offices, there was
a gain Of more than y per cent over
the sales of the previous month.
Secretary Lamar is absorbed in
making his annual report, which will
be more voluminous than usual, deal
ing largely with the affairs Of the In
dams and lands and railroads.
The report of commissioner Of pa
tents, Hall, to the secretary of the in
terror, shows that the defalcation of
Bacon, late financial clerk of the pa
tent office. is $50, 900. His bond
was only SO, 200, and there is a ques-
ton whether or not his bondsmen will
be liable for more than that amount.
The time fixed has expired without
the government being able TO secure
the fourteen million in four and four
and half per cent bonds called for
by the September circular, the pur-
chase only amounting to S13,37G,-
$50.